Hinge



May 1, 1945. A. L S-n 2,375,118

HINGE Filed cat. '7, 194:5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. LESTI HINGE Filed Got. 7, 1943 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented May 1, 1945 HINGE Arnold Lesti, Rochester, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fa-Cile FastenerOorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 7, 1943, Serial No. 505,328 Claims. '(01. 16-140) My invention is a hinge to give a springing or holding action in the open and shut positions.

An object of my invention is to provide an adequate hinge that is small in size, powerful, and simple. Another object is to provide, along with the above features, a hinge that is inexpensive and long lasting. A further object is to provide a hinge which can be easily applied to handbag channel frames and still permit the normal use of the said frames. In such handbag frames the customary procedure is to provide catches at the top of the frame to hold the handbag or pocketbook in the closed position. With my invention, these catches are unnecessary, for the hinge itself provides the springing action to hold the handbag shut; and it also permits springing action in the open position with simplified stopping means.

The channel frames function of holding the material of the bag is still retained throughout its entire length.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hinge in which the opening and closing pressures can be different when required. I

Another important object is to provide a hinge in which the centering and springing functions are combined in the same members.

A further detailed object is to provide equal distribution of load on the spring members to ensure long life. I have found that this condition can be met by a small roller or ball engaging a cam and two spring members simultaneously. In this connection, a further important object is to provide a hinge that takes up no room for functioning beyond its diameter. I have found that spring jaws working in arcs can span a distance substantially equal to the entire diameter of the hinge; and a cam enclosed in the span can engage the above mentioned ball or roller on the tips of the spring aws.

Another important object is to provide a hinge which does not squeak when operated. The use of a rolling member on a, cam gives silent performance, and while the action is a combination rolling and slidingone, the rolling is maximum when the restoring tension is greatest and the sliding is greatest when the restoring tension is least. In the positions of maximum rolling of the rolling member, there is no squeak. In the positions of greatest sliding action, the above mentioned spring members grip the rolling member with greatest tension to give sufficient rigidity and prevent squeaks.

A further object is to provide a hinge which retains any lubricating grease that may be placed within it. This feature is attained inherently by the design of the hinge in which the above mentioned spring members also form the sides of the hinge with the grease retained within. A further object is to provide a hinge that requires very little or no lubrication, and that Will operate satisfactorily when dry. I

The above features and objects are attained with a hinge of minimum size in which the various parts form a simplified, effective combination of low cost.

With the above and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and claims, refer to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the hinge.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arm marked In in Fig. 2'.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the arms extended in the neutral position of the hinge.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the hinge in the fully opened position.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the hinge applied to a channel frame. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of Fig.7.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the hinge applied to a channel frame in the fully opened position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a special form of cam with a large dead center.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numbers represent similar parts throughout, hinge member II has two jaws I1, l8 with acircular inside diameter to engage and center on cam I3 a portion of whose surface is also circular This permits centering of the arm H], II. The rivet piece 12 hasa square portion l6 which engages square opening 24 of arm piece Ill. The cam 13 also has a similar square opening. This arrangement allows arm ID to turn integrally the cam and rivet piece members as though 'they were one piece, When arms I0 and H are forcibly separated, there is relative rotation between the spring jaw l1, I8 and cam l3. The spring jaws force the rolling member [4 to move over the surface ofthe cam. In doing this, the rolling member causes the spring jaws to move apart against their spring tension with maximum separation at the top of the cam, as shown in Fig. 5. The jaws have tapered portions 28, 29 on their ends to keep the rolling member from falling out. The tapered portions also enable the jaws to give the. rolling member a resultant radial tension. This tension portional to the rate of change of the radial distance of the cam surface with respectto angular rotation, or slope of the cam surface, and is equal to zero at the dead center shown in Fig. 5. During the initial stages of movement the rolling mem-' ber I4 actually rolls, and later a combination sliding and rolling action takes place. The rolling action minimizes wear, I prefer hardened rolling and cam members with suitably heat, treated jawsII, I8 for best spring action. The rivet h piece I2 can be of softer material to permit riveting. The rolling member l4 may be either a roller ofaball. x

, When thespring jaws spread apart aroundithe middle portion of the cycle of movement, their tips slide on the rolling member's surface allowing the rolling member to move out and relieve excessive tension. This permits a' steep cam slope at the beginning and. ends of the stroke while, at

the same time, this lowers prohibitive spring movements which'wouldotherwise result from such high slopes. A high slope necessitates deep portions on the cam to minimize the effective length of the dead center or dead spot, wherein frictional resistance is equal to or greater than the restoring moments. Iprefer to construct the spring jaws IT, I8 of diminishing thickness towards the tips as shown, in order to keep the working stresses per unit cross section distributed uniformly throughout the length of the jaws.

.opening pressure, with a long dead spot immaterial, a type of cam shown in Fig. 10 may be used. The slope of surface 2| determines the pressure required to separate the arms. If this slope is high enough, the cam surface will function to stop further movement in one direction. This is the case for the hinge of Fig. 6 having portions 22 to prevent movement beyond the working stroke.

For a lesser closing pressure the cam may be constructed with a shallower closing surface'as shown in dotted lines 20, Fig. 10. Various changes can be made in the shape of the cam, such as the. surface 23, Fig. 10 could be'made closer to the center to relieve dead centeror dead spot friction, if such is desirable.

Memberlfl, Fig. 3, has a round section to match the rivet piece i2, thus retaining the jaws I I and roller as illustrated inFig. 4.

Figures '7, 8, 9 illustrate the application of the hinge to handbag channel frames. The channel frame shown is of a representative type with opening on the inside 25 for handbag material, and closed portion 26 on the outside. The construction and various applications are well known to those skilled in the art. The hinge arm's I0, I I

are of sumcient thickness to fit into the channel frame, but the width of the arms I8, II is small compared to the .depth of the channel 21 in the frame, Ample room is thus allowed for the material, which is inserted into the channel, and then the edges pressed together. The arms I 0, Il may be forced tightly into the frame or they can be soldered or otherwise fastened to it. While I have shown the arms I0, II of long length so that the material inserted into the channel will go in evenly, this is not absolutely necessary.

Shorter length and other shapes of arms could be used.

With Wood handbag frames, the arms I0, I I can be made with sharp points and inserted into tight fitting holes in the wood; or the arms could be flat with screw holes for fastening to the wood. Since no space is taken up for functioning beyond the diameter of this type hinge, the frames can be brought up to the diameter, thus giving a neat appearance without interfering with the material. Of course, the riveted portion on rivet piece I2 could be eliminated. and a threaded hole substituted, so that a screw could hold arm I0 tightly on to piece I2.

. Various changes can be made by those skilled in the art in the construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the drawings, specification, and claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising in combination, spring jaws with portions thereof of circular form, a first arm fixed to the spring jaws, a rolling member to engage the said spring jaws simultaneously, a cam with portions of circular form to engage, the circular form portions of the spring jaws and center thereon and with a cam surface to engage the rolling member, and a second arm fixed to the cam and adapted to move therewith whereby spring tension is established between the armsin accordance with the shape of the cam surface and the relative positions of the arms.

i 2. A hinge comprising in combination, spring members forming an interior surface of substantially circular form, free movable ends on the springmembers having tapered, portions, a rolling member adapted-to engage the said spring members at their tapered portions, a cam with portions thereof adapted to engage the circular form interior surface of the spring members to center the same, and means on the cam t engage the rolling member whereby spring tension is established in accordance with the relative positions of the spring members and the cam.

3. A hinge comprising in combination, a first arm member having on one side spring jaws with free-open ends, an interior bearing surface on the spring jaws, tapered portions on the free ends, a rolling member adapted to engage simultaneously the said spring jaws at their tapered portions, a cam having an interior opening and a surface with two depressed regions and a, middie elevated region, a second arm member having an end with an interior opening to match the interior opening of the cam, a rivet piece with an extension to fit into the above mentioned interior openings of both the cam and second arm members, means for fastening the said extension of the rivet piece on to the second arm member, and

portions on the 'cam surface to engage the interior bearing surface of the spring jaws and center thereon Wherebyspring tension is produced in accordance with therelative positions of the arm members. 1

4.A hinge comprising in combination, a first arm member having on one side spring jaws 'with a'n interior bearing surface, free movable their tapered portions, acam with a portion of its exterior surface adapted to engage the said bearing surface of the spring jaws and with another portion of said exterior surface adapted to engage said rolling member and comprising two depressed regions and an elevated middle region, and a sec and arm member fixed to the cam whereby closing and opening tension is produced in accordance with the relative positions of the arm members.

5. A hinge comprising in combination, a first arm member, tw spring members held to the first arm member and having free movable ends and an interior bearing surface, a rolling member adapted to engage the free movable ends of the spring members, a, cam having an exterior surface to engage the rolling member and the interior bearing surface ofthe spring members and center thereon, portions 0n the cam surface consisting of two depressed regions and a middle elevated region, there being a high slope region of the .cam surface in a direction opposite the middle elevated region, and a second arm member held to the cam, whereby relative movement of the arm members produces spring action when the rolling member lies between a depressed region and the middle elevated region of the cam surface, and a stop action when the rolling member acts upon the said high slope region of the cam surface.

ARNOLD, LESTI. 

